Times staff, wires
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Jack: Rest up, Tiger
Jack Nicklaus, above left, doesn't want Tiger Woods to break his record of 18 major championships. But he wants him to be healthy enough to try. Nicklaus told him as much Friday when Woods called to say that for the second time in four years, he wouldn't be able to play in Nicklaus' Memorial tournament, which begins today in Dublin, Ohio, because of an injury to his left leg. Woods missed the event in 2008 while recovering from surgery to clean out cartilage damage in his left knee. This time he has a minor knee sprain and an Achilles' problem, a combination that was bad enough to cause him to leave the Players Championship after nine holes May 12. Woods hopes to play the U.S. Open next month. "I don't know the extent of his injuries," Nicklaus said. "I told Tiger when I was on the phone with him — which is the same thing I've said to him a thousand times — 'Tiger, nobody ever wants their records to be broken … but I certainly don't want you not to be healthy and not have the opportunity to play to break records. I want you to get yourself healthy, do what you have to do to go play, get your golf game back in shape, and I wish you well."
Couples: Ditto
When he agreed to be Presidents Cup captain again, Fred Couples jokingly sent Tiger Woods a text message telling him to play his way onto the team so he won't have to be a pick. But given Woods' injuries, it might not be a joke. Couples isn't worried, though. He figures if Woods isn't good enough to make the team in September, or doesn't feel healthy enough to play the matches in Australia in November, he'll let Couples know. "If he's not ready to play, he'll be the one to tell me, 'Don't waste your pick on me,' " Couples said Wednesday. "I don't even know how much he'll play, but he doesn't have to prove a lot to any captain."
Quote of the day
"Most people thought I was a waiter."
Masters winner Charl Schwartzel, who, at the European Tour's request, wore his green jacket to last week's tour awards dinner, which was black tie
This week on tour
PGA: Memorial, Muirfield Village Golf Club, Dublin, Ohio. TV: Today-Friday, 3 p.m., Golf Channel; Saturday-Sunday, 3 p.m., Ch. 10
LPGA: ShopRite Classic, Seaview Dolce Seaview Resort, Galloway, N.J. TV: Saturday, 5 p.m.; Sunday, 4:30 p.m., Golf Channel
Champions: Principal Charity Classic, Glen Oaks CC, West Des Moines, Iowa. TV: Friday, 6:30 p.m.; Saturday-Sunday, 7:30 p.m., Golf Channel
PGA Europe: Wales Open, Celtic Manor Resort, Newport, Wales. TV: Today-Friday, 9:30 a.m; Saturday-Sunday, 9 a.m., Golf Channel
Nationwide: Melwood Prince George's County Open, U of Maryland GC, College Park, Md. TV: Today-Friday, 12:30 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m., Golf Channel
Times staff, wires